Posts tagged ‘About’

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June 5, 2011

Post-Grad Life: Updating the Context of Eating Up

by Amanda

Dear reader,

Some not-food food for thought.

I admit there has been an absence of posts these past few months due to the all-consuming task of getting my life in order post-graduation. Finally, I have news. And a new direction.

I’m on the move. In exactly two weeks, I will be packing up my apartment in Chicago and headed to St. Louis. While I’ll miss Chicago’s neighborhoods, people and food offerings, I will not miss the cold.

At all.

Seriously.

Why was it 45 degrees the last week of May?

Get me out of here.

I couldn’t be more excited about returning to St. Louis. It has taken me a longggg time to figure out where I wanted to be after graduation. Three years ago, I was moving to NYC. Then I realized I like nature, personal space and the ability to afford food. I next thought Pacific NW for sure (Portland, Seattle). Then I realized I like sun. I like sun a lot. After that, I was convinced Austin was the place for me and everyone else. I honestly should work for that city’s tourism department with the way I talked about it. I went down there in March and had a blast, but coming from Chicago, I was surprised at how small it was and realized how far away I was from my family and friends.

Ultimately, the things I wanted in my city: family and friends nearby, seasons (and warmer weather), affordability, history, professional sports teams, attractions, small town feel in a medium/big place and a growing food movement all led me to my new home. Which was my old home. I place this realization in the category of my life titled: Things You Never Realized How Awesome They Were Until After They Ended/You Didn’t Have Them. Unfortunately, that list is a little longer than I’d like it to be, but that’s not important.

Because we are talking about the present.

The present consists of me graduating college in two weeks with a degree in journalism, a piece of paper that says I love writing so much that I made a public declaration in the form of a diploma that will inevitably hang on some wall somewhere. Maybe my future classroom…cue my transition to announcing my post-grad plans.

I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching for elementary education starting this fall. Becoming a teacher and working in the education system is my cliché millennial decision to “follow my dreams.” Luckily, I don’t have to give up journalism completely in order to do this. I recently accepted a great position at the university I’m attending where I will be working with college undergrads as the general manager of the school’s paper. Journalism + helping teach at an educational institution = dream job.

So that’s my present. And a little preview of my future two years. Now it’s time to edit some of my biographical information on this blog.

Love,
Amanda
Soon-to-be St. Louis food blogger (say hi if you live in STL!)

Posted in About | 31 Comments »

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May 4, 2011

Eating Up Returns

by Amanda

Guys, I’m back.

kitchen appliances

food processor/blender

And more equipped. Like any good sequel, this blog now features the main character–ahem, me–with much better (kitchen) tools. Let the adventures continue!

Yes, I hug my appliances. What’s the kitchen appliance you’re most likely to hug? 

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March 7, 2011

My Last Study Snacks

by Amanda

Today marks the beginning of my last week of school. I’m excited to finish my last assignments and allow myself to do things that aren’t homework when I have time off from work (like blog!). I still have a lot of work to do, but I’ll be back later this week with a fun post. Until then, I leave you with what I hope was not a representation of my food choices these past four years…

college food pyramid

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January 26, 2011

Food for Thought

by Amanda

My mom frequently sends me articles she thinks I may be interested in reading. As recently as six months ago, she would clip out the magazine and newspaper stories and mail them to me in an envelope with a smiley face sticker. She is a champion of print media’s rights. Occasionally–and much more lately–she has sent me emails with the links to the stories. Even she can’t deny how much more the Internet offers!

This week, she sent me an article from Real Simple, The Psychology of Happiness. I hated it. My mom told me I was supposed to because I’m in my 20s. Basically, the author of the article talked about how happiness is not flashy, but rather it’s rooted in the absence of things/events that make us unhappy. I argued to my mom that sounded more like contentment than happiness. I didn’t like the way in which the author seemed to have given up on finding greater happiness.

I did like the message that happiness is found in the simple things in life. For me, the greatest source of happiness is found in family, friends and food. I feel like I’m not alone on this one. Narrowing in on the food part of that equation, I realized that the simplest foods give me the greatest joy. I don’t need a prime rib steak (although I won’t turn that down), a Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Praline Frosting or a fancy bottle of wine. I do, however, need the following:

happy food

A good apple. I love all apples, but it’s the best when you get that rare, perfect one that’s crispy, juicy and sweet-but-not-too-sweet.

Well-stocked supply of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats. Not the Instant Oatmeal. There’s a world of difference between the two.

Flavored coffee. As long as it’s not chocolate flavored.

A perfect overeasy egg with runny yolk. I’m terrible at cooking these myself.

A crunchy, seedy, nutty slice of whole wheat bread. And the smell of it in the toaster. This one makes more than just me happy.

The smell of anything with cinnamon baking. Or nutmeg, or pumpkin…actually, probably the smell of most desserts baking.

A satisfying pint of non-dairy ice cream when you need it. My sister knows what I’m talking about with this one.

What do you think about the article? And what are the foods that make you the happiest?

Posted in About | 8 Comments »

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January 11, 2011

Four Your Information

by Amanda

Sarah at The Smart Kitchen tagged me to answer this blog chain that has been going around. I have to admit that I substituted out a few of the categories. I guess I’m not self-aware enough to know what four of my most commonly used phrases are or four things I’m craving right now. I’ll add it to my list of four things I need to work on…

amanda

Four TV Shows I Watch:

1. Bones

2. The Office

3. The Bachelor (I may or may not have celebrated turning 21 by applying to be on this show. You decide.)

4. Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights

Four Places I Would Like To Go:

1. Hannibal, MO (Mark Twain’s hometown)

2. Montreal, QC Canada

3. Ireland

4. Cinque Terre, Italy

Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy

Four Things I’m Passionate About:

1. Healthy food

2. Friday Night Lights (yes, the tv show, it’s that good)

3. Writing

4. Surrounding myself with family and friends

friends

Four Things I’ve Learned From The Past

1. Getting mad at people or situations is a waste of time and a missed chance to be happy.

2. Life is an imprecise science of balancing your plans with life’s opportunities.

3. Nutri-Grain bars are not a healthy food.

4. Cheap shoes should not be worn during Chicago winters…unless you want to slip on ice and break your wrist like I did.

broken wrist

Four Things I Love About Winter:

1. The way it makes me so appreciative of spring

2. Finally hydrating myself properly with copious amounts of hot tea

3. Spontaenously tackling your friends in the snow

4. Spice flavored desserts

maple-parsnip cake

Four Things I’m Looking Forward To:

1. Finishing school in mid-March

2. Eventually moving to a new city

3. Baseball season (Go STL Cardinals!)

4. Warm weather

NYC summer

Four Blogs Added To My Google Reader:

1. And the Pursuit of Happiness

2. Children of the 90s (unfortunately hasn’t been updated since last fall)

3. Whole Story

4. Ashley Loves (keeping it in the family…it’s my sister’s blog)

Feel free to repost the survey on your own blog and answer the questions yourself!

Posted in About | 17 Comments »

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December 30, 2010

Suggestive Life Guidelines for 2011

by Amanda

Eating Up looks a little different! With the help of my graphic designer-in-training sister, I redesigned the blog, and I am thrilled with the results. Hope you like it too! I thought it was an appropriate time to do it, seeing as tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and a lot of people are making plans for fresh starts and whatnot.

I actually love New Year’s Eve. I don’t even do anything particularly fun for it usually, and a lot of years I haven’t even stayed up until midnight to watch the ball drop on TV. (That confession won’t surprise my friends.) Still, I love welcoming a new year and wondering what it will have in store for me. And while I love the unknown, I also appreciate “suggestive life guidelines” too. That’s what I’m calling my resolutions this year. It puts less pressure on me.

Suggestive Life Guidelines for 2011

1. READ MORE

I’m not gonna say I need to read a book a month or anything specific because hey, life happens, and some months I have more free time than others. Still, I always want to read more. I used to say I don’t read for fun, because I have too much school reading to do as is…but that reason won’t make sense come mid-March when I finish school for good. Feel free to leave some suggestions for me about what I should check out!

2. FLOSS

Why is this so hard for me to do? Sure, I can eat healthy, take my daily vitamins and stay away from too much sugar, but I can’t get myself to take the minute to floss everyday…or once a week. I guess it’s good I don’t have too much of a sweet tooth, but really I should finally make 2011 the year I floss more.

3. GROW THIS BLOG

I don’t like to think of this blog as my baby…it’s just too weird of a metaphor for me. I do like to think of this blog as a tree–a fruit tree specifically since I long for a pear tree–and I want to put in the time and creativity and watch it grow. As a journalism major who loves food and is fascinated by social media, I love what Eating Up adds to my life.

4. RUN A HALF MARATHON

I may regret this public suggestive life guideline. My dad really wants to run a half marathon with me, and I told him I’m game as long as I’m running through a very pretty place. Healdsburg wine country exceeds expectations on that request. This race isn’t until the fall so 1) it gives me plenty of time to train 2) it gives me plenty of time to get distracted by other life things. Wish me luck.

5. FIND A JOB

Okay, so this one isn’t really a suggestive life guideline. It pretty much needs to happen.

What are your New Year’s Eve plans? I’m actually doing something fun this year–a group of my girl friends and I are going to a bar in downtown Chicago!

Posted in About, Holiday | 9 Comments »

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December 21, 2010

My Family’s Pantry Tales

by Amanda

If you read my previous post, you know I’m home in St. Louis for the holidays with my family for my last winter break from school. As I mentally prepare for the day when I am finally no longer a student, I have been drumming up old school memories from when I was younger…starting with the conversation I had with my brother in our basement when I was 4 years old and told him I couldn’t wait to have homework. My brother was much too engrossed in whatever game he was playing on SEGA Genesis to pay much attention to me, but he probably said something along the lines of me being stupid because homework is stupid.

Nerd alert: I liked homework most of the time.

Here on Eating Up, I like to document my growing taste buds as I grow up. It should be known, though, that I am one that holds on to memories way too long. So, when I came home on Saturday and made my routine inspection of the pantry, fridge and freezer, I couldn’t help but smile when I saw some things that have never changed in my family’s kitchen.

1. Our cereal box to person ratio is off the charts. The amount of boxes shown is actually significantly less than the normal quantity stocked when there were three kids in the house to feed. Since my siblings and I have grown up and moved out, Rice Krispies, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs have disappeared from the shelves as well.

Observation: My parents like Cheerios, Chex and honey.

2. M&M’s are a pantry staple, just like bread. Our family doesn’t discriminate among milk chocolate, peanut, peanut butter and dark chocolate. We like them all. My mom always buys the seasonal ones too. This may actually be the reason why M&M’s are my favorite candy.

3. I have never been to New Orleans, but I’ve had their beignets. We have always had a box of this beignet mix in our pantry to make on special weekends. My dad started bringing it back when he went to NOLA for work, but we always ordered more when we ran out (by phone? by mail order pre-Internet? I’m actually not sure…). Cafe Du Monde is famous in The Big Easy, and I’ve never had better beignets. Order some for yourself!

4. This crazy dome contraption pops popcorn. And does it well. It has served my father for about every other night since as long as I can remember. Well, that’s not true. I’m not sure how many he has actually gone through all these years. Anyway, this nighttime ritual always impressed my friends who came over for sleepovers. It actually impressed my now roommate just last year. She told me to steal it for our apartment this year. I told her that may just break my father’s heart. And probably my mother’s too since some nights she asks for the popcorn too.

5. This is a picture of our freezer. The top shelf contains assorted Nestle Tollhouse chips (semi-sweet chocolate and butterscotch are pictured). No, they were not going stale. My mom buys a bag and intentionally puts them in there to snack on. This is my fault. I gave her the idea when one of my friends gave me the idea a long, long time ago. Turns out, I prefer the taste of room temperature chips more (you can actually taste the flavors better, no?). My mom on the other hand lives for these frozen morsels. As a teenager, I used to sneak the bags back into the pantry to thaw. As an adult, I let my mom have her fun. After all, it’s not always about me and what I like anymore. (Life lesson: It never was! …Or should have been.)

What pantry staples would I find in your kitchen? What are some of your unique food habits?

Posted in About | 7 Comments »

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October 24, 2010

My Favorite Food

by Amanda

I just got back from my cousin’s wedding in Minneapolis this weekend where a lot of family fun was had and revelations were made. One revelation was that yes, I do have a favorite food. It’s wedding cake. I have to admit one of my favorite parts of going to weddings is seeing the cake and finding out what flavors the couple picked. There’s something about the anticipation of getting to try some and the atmosphere in which it’s served that never fails to get me excited. Not that I ever need help getting excited for food…

Do you have a favorite food?

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October 2, 2010

Introducing Me

by Amanda

Teachers hammered in this basic literary question ever since I successfully read my first book: what’s the point of view of the author? While my previous post and About page provide you with a general understanding of who I am, they don’t really reveal any specifics about my culinary characteristics. The answers to the questions below may do a better job in jumpstarting the getting-to-know-me process!

Where are you coming from, geographically speaking?

I grew up in St. Louis, MO, a city I love returning to—and not only because my family is still there! I currently am a senior at a college in Chicago, and I hope to move to Austin once I graduate.

imgres full austin_2

What was the first food blog you read?

My sister’s! She wrote Sweet + Natural for about a year and a half, starting in 2008. And I actually had my own food blog as well from May to August 2009 called My Summerizations.

What was your favorite childhood food?

It’s hard to pick among the three mainstays of my diet growing up: fruit, bread and potatoes. I also ate only Pop-Tarts for breakfast from ages 5-17. Oh, how young and naïve I was…

AAAAC_ql0CoAAAAAABFQcA

What is your favorite food as an adult?

Yeah, right, like this is an answerable question. I will say this: you can find my favorite food at the grocery store. ;-)

What is your favorite dessert?

Carrot cake. The vegan kind from Chicago Diner if you’d like me to be more specific, but I’m not opposed to taste testing others.

chicagodiner-carrotcake

Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla, no question. I figure I need to admit this early and be upfront: I don’t love chocolate.

Any dietary restrictions?

Nope! I was a pescetarian for about 8 months last year, but I started eating meat again when I spent this past summer in New York City. I try to eat only organic, natural kinds of meat when I do, but there are times when I’m not so strict with that rule.

A la Runaway Bride, how do you like your eggs?

Over easy with a runny yolk.

images

Great movie.

Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below! I love “meeting” people with the same—and different—interests as me. Answer any of the above questions or ask your own!

Posted in About | 2 Comments »

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October 1, 2010

Eating Up: A Growing Manifesto

by Amanda

Have you seen the Up Series? It’s a longitudinal study documentary that has been following fourteen British children since 1964, when they were just 7 years old. Every seven years another installment comes out that gives viewers an update on how their lives have been going since we saw them last. It’s fascinating to watch other people’s life plans change and unfold (or not unfold) on screen.

No, I am not one of the fourteen British children selected for the documentary. I’m Amanda, and if I had been a part of a similar documentary, I would be currently filming my third life installment, as I turned 21 earlier this year. It’s an interesting age—right at the threshold of adulthood, really, and it has me facing those big “where is my life going?” questions almost every day.

I’m a big believer in being open to life’s opportunities, but I also feel that a good grasp of what you want out of life and a loose outline of goals is always a good thing. And the sooner I can figure out those things, the sooner I can start taking the necessary steps to try to make things happen.

Luckily, I know one thing for sure. I love food, and I love all forms of media. The second love makes sense as I am about to (cross my fingers) receive my journalism degree in about half a year. The food love? Well, as the pictures from my blog header indicate, I strongly believe I was born a foodie.

On this blog, I hope to document my further maturation and transition into “adult life,” the biggest adventure I think I’ll ever take. And because food is a major part of my—and anyone’s—life, I plan to weave my tales of growing up with stories of the further maturation of my tastebuds. Join me as I grow up—and eat up—along the way!

Posted in About | 5 Comments »

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